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Dr. Richard Iverson, retired medical chief of staff at Western Illinois University's Beu Health Center, will deliver the second annual Jackie Thompson Lecture at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 in the University Union Grand Ballroom. Iverson will present, "If I Don't Take Care of Myself, Who Will? Confessions of an Old Grandiose Professional Busybody."

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The annual Jackie Thompson Wellness Lecture was established by the Employee Wellness Committee in 2011 in recognition of Jackie Thompson, vice president emeritus for Administrative Services, for her diligent advocacy of employee wellness.

October 23, 2012

MACOMB, IL — Dr. Richard Iverson, retired medical chief of staff at Western Illinois University's Beu Health Center, will deliver the second annual Jackie Thompson Lecture at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 in the University Union Sandburg Theatre. Iverson will present, "If I Don't Take Care of Myself, Who Will? Confessions of an Old Grandiose Professional Busybody."

The annual lecture series was established by the Employee Wellness Committee last year in recognition of Jackie Thompson, vice president emeritus for Administrative Services, for her diligent advocacy of employee wellness.

According to Employee Wellness Committee Chair Judy Yeast, Iverson—who retired in May 2012 as medical chief of staff at Beu Health Center after 11 years and returned to Beu this fall as a part-time staff physician—was chosen by members of a selection subcommittee based on his years of service and contributions to the WIU and Macomb communities.

"Prior to coming to Western 11 years ago, Dr. Iverson served 24 years as a physician for Macomb and surrounding communities at Family Practice Associates of Macomb, LTD," Yeast explained. "Dr. Iverson's experience serving the healthcare needs of WIU students and members of the Macomb community enables him to provide a broad perspective about the importance of wellness in every stage of an individual's life," she said.

Beu Health Center Director Mary Margaret Harris noted after retiring from private practice in Macomb, Iverson's work at Beu enabled him to continue his passion for medicine in the field of family medicine and provided him with the opportunity to expand his field of expertise.

"After coming to Beu, Dr. Iverson was certified in the American Society of Addictions Medicine in order to better fill the needs in an under-resourced setting. He was a part of a team that led the implementation of the Western Illinois University Alcohol and Other Drugs Resource Center, a licensed level-one treatment program that brings needed services to campus," Harris explained. "He has done much in the field of alcohol and other drug prevention and education both in the community and on campus."

Harris said during his tenure as Beu Health Center's medical chief of staff, Iverson's support and leadership were instrumental in adapting the practice to such changes as electronic medical records, telemedicine and veterans issues.

"Although he has stepped down as our chief of staff, we are fortunate to welcome him back in his role as staff physician at Beu," Harris added.

In 2011, Iverson was honored for his contributions to rural health care in Illinois and received the Rural Physician of Excellence Award. Iverson is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is certified in addiction medicine by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Iverson earned his M.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1971, and he served as a general medical officer in the U.S. Air Force from 1972-74.

In community leadership roles, Iverson has served as the president and past president of the McDonough County Medical Society, and he currently serves on the McDonough District Hospital Board. His community service also extends to Boy Scouts, Rotary and his church.

Employee Wellness and Jackie Thompson Background

According to Yeast, who is also the associate director of Campus Recreation, members of the Employee Wellness Jackie Thompson Lecture selection subcommittee choose the annual speaker based on a set of criteria, including being a WIU employee and an advocate for wellness. Subcommittee members in 2012 included: Yeast; Cathy McMillan, assistant professor, kinesiology; and Dale Adkins, associate dean for academic affairs, research and innovation in the College of Education and Human Services.

Thompson retired from Western in July 2011 after 41 years of service. Under her direction, WIU created a wellness program for University employees, including Western Walks, which led to a full-time employee in Human Resources dedicated to training and development.

As vice president for administrative services, Thompson served as the University's chief administrative, business and financial officer, and as treasurer for the Board of Trustees. She was responsible for contract approval and administration, management of the University's facilities and construction programs and Western's legal compliance, in conjunction with contracted legal counsel. Thompson has also served as the University liaison to the Civil Service Employees Council and the Council of Administrative Personnel. In the community, she has served on the McDonough County United Way Board, the McDonough County Republican Central Committee and many other organizations.

For more information about the lecture series or the Nov. 7 event, contact Yeast at (309) 298-1670 or JA-Yeast@wiu.edu.